opencpn chart groups not working

[Jeremy 5426]

I'm running opencpn 5.8.4-1 FP on openplotter Rpi 4, I've loaded vector enc s63charts and these show fine in opencpn however I can't get chart groups to work.

I can create chart groups and add charts to the groups and these groups are listed on the charts (right mouse button>chart groups) however when I select a group I get the message "Group xxx is empty" xxx being the group name. I've tried adding charts to the groups again, click apply and ok but same issue. I've tried rebooting afterwards but no change.

I'm selecting the charts from subdirectories of the s63 charts listed in the All Charts group which is /home/pi/.var/app/org.opencpn.OpenCPN/config/opencpn/s63/s63chartsNZ

Any ideas? Thanks.

[bdbcat]

Please post OpenCPN config file.
Thanks
Dave

[Jeremy 5426]

Hi Dave,

Opencpn config file attached, i added the .pdf extension to get past the 1000bytes max files size for txt files.

Thanks
Jeremy

[Jeremy 5426]

I've taken another look but can't figure this out. I'm wondering if I'm selecting the wrong type of charts for the groups? I based my selection on the All Charts group and I'm selecting a sub-directory within this group.

How can i paste a screen shot in this post?

J

[Jeremy 5426]

Hi Dave, did you get a chance to look at the config file?

thanks
Jeremy

[rgleason]

Jeremy have your read the instructions?
I always have to ask this, as people think it is easier to ask here, but actually it is faster to read, and often you will learn other important things about the program and get your answer faster!


I think you should at least review the process yourself.

https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...s:chart_groups
This is the way I setup chart groups.
https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...nd_chart_files



Now there is also an important FAQ about searching and and using this forum.
https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...nual_basic:faq


How to search for answers
https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...sic:faq:search


Support and Report
https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...support-report

[bdbcat]

Jeremy...


From the config file, I see:

IncludeItem=/home/pi/.var/app/org.opencpn.OpenCPN/config/opencpn/s63/s63charts/NZ/NZ

Looks like an extra "NZ" there.
You may edit the config file (WHILE OPENCPN IS CLOSED) and experiment.


Dave

[Jeremy 5426]

Originally Posted by rgleason

Jeremy have your read the instructions?
I always have to ask this, as people think it is easier to ask here, but actually it is faster to read, and often you will learn other important things about the program and get your answer faster!


I think you should at least review the process yourself.

https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...s:chart_groups
This is the way I setup chart groups.
https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...nd_chart_files



Now there is also an important FAQ about searching and and using this forum.
https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...nual_basic:faq


How to search for answers
https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...sic:faq:search


Support and Report
https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...support-report

Hi rgleason, thanks for the reply. Yes I've read the manual a few times (both of those first 2 links), its seems pretty straightforward which is why is baffling me.

[Jeremy 5426]

Originally Posted by bdbcat

Jeremy...


From the config file, I see:

IncludeItem=/home/pi/.var/app/org.opencpn.OpenCPN/config/opencpn/s63/s63charts/NZ/NZ

Looks like an extra "NZ" there.
You may edit the config file (WHILE OPENCPN IS CLOSED) and experiment.


Dave

Thanks Dave,

I've taken a deeper look at the directory contents and think I know what my problem is. The s63 charts are located here
/home/pi/.var/app/org.opencpn.OpenCPN/config/opencpn/s63/s63charts/NZ

and there are subdirectories for what looks like different geographical areas include NZ - New Zealand. Within the NZ subdirectory there are folders for each chart like this.

home/pi/.var/app/org.opencpn.OpenCPN/config/opencpn/s63/s63charts/NZ/NZ/NZ506825

So I assumed (yes I know what assume means!) if I pick the NZ directory or a subset of chart directories as chart groups this would work - however looking at the contents of these directories there's only .txt files in them and the s63 chart files are all stored at the higher level of /home/pi/.var/app/org.opencpn.OpenCPN/config/opencpn/s63/s63charts/NZ This directory contains files named chartno.os63 - so these are the files i need.

I'll take another read of the doc and how to create directories to group charts.

My entire reason for using groups is to speed up the touchscreen on the charts as it's currently about 2 seconds delay, so I'll get my groups sorted and see if this helps.

Anyway thanks again for your help.
Jeremy

[rgleason]

opencpn 5.8.4-1 FP on openplotter Rpi 4


1. Created chart groups
2. Added charts to the groups
3. Groups are listed on the charts (right mouse button>chart groups)
4. Select a group I get the message "Group xxx is empty" xxx being the group name.


I've tried adding charts to the groups again, click apply and ok but same issue. I've tried rebooting afterwards but no change.

I'm selecting the charts from subdirectories of the s63 charts listed in the All Charts group which is /home/pi/.var/app/org.opencpn.OpenCPN/config/opencpn/s63/s63chartsNZ
====


OK, lets try this step by step following this instructions here.
https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...nd_chart_files


1. Chart Groups. Remove all previous chart groups.
2. Chart File Tab. Remove all previous chart file paths

3. Chart File Tab. Add one path by browsing directly to your New Zealand charts.
4. Review the path and make sure it is correct.
5. Chart Groups. Name a new chart group "NZ" and then add the new path to the New Zealand charts.
6. Close and then try the right click at the charts.

[Jeremy 5426]

Hi rgleason I followed your steps and it's working now.

1. Chart Groups. Remove all previous chart groups.
2. Chart File Tab. Remove all previous chart file paths

3. Chart File Tab. Add one path by browsing directly to your New Zealand charts.
4. Review the path and make sure it is correct.
5. Chart Groups. Name a new chart group "NZ" and then add the new path to the New Zealand charts.
6. Close and then try the right click at the charts.

I did step 1 and 2 to remove the chart groups and directory path.
Then I selected 'Prepare all ENC charts' and it recreated them in /var/config/opencpn/s63/s63charts/NZ, I'm not sure why but this is a different path to pervious.

Anyway then I went into chart groups and the default 'All Charts' group is there and I can view the charts fine - so all as expected.

I created a subdirectory of NZ and copied some of the *.os63 files into this directory, I'd tried this prior to the 'rebuild' and it kept saying the group was empty but when adding the new group this time I selected the path in the new group box before clicking 'apply', I don't think I did this previously so maybe this is why it's working now.

So it's working with new directories and groups which is great. Unfortunately it hasn't made navigation on the charts any faster which was my main reason for creating groups in the first place. Time for some more research.

Thanks again for your feedback!
Jeremy

[rgleason]

@Jeremy 5426

First of all, thank you for reporting back, we learn so much from the users this way, and secondly thank you for your persistence.

While this is all fresh in your mind, would you please take a look at
https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...s:chart_groups
to see if there is any possible improvement in the instructions, particularly with regards to those critical steps!

I understand that you believe the "speed of navigation has not increased". Can you be more specific? What is causing the problem? Panning? Getting setup with a route and activating? Slow response when doing certain things?

Also can you remind us what RPI is being used and what installation of OpenCPN? Are you using Openplotter for example? Thank you.

[Jeremy 5426]

@rgleason

I tested creating a new group by doing this.

1. Using a terminal session I created a new directory named Waitemata here :
/home/pi/.var/app/org.opencpn.OpenCPN/config/opencpn/s63/s63charts/NZ
- this is where all the encrypted ENC files are located named <chartno>.os63.

2. copied file NZ505322.os63 to the new directory - i know which geographical area this file refers to by using the NZ Linz website - https://charts.linz.govt.nz/charts/spatial-viewer

3. In opencpn>chart groups created a New Group named Waitemata, the fully qualified directory name appears under All Available Charts. Click Apply and Ok.

On the chart right mouse button and the new chart is listed however when selecting the group I get a popup 'Waitemata group is empty' and when I go back into chart groups the Waitemata group is empty - it's not saving the directory I selected earlier. I've tried this several times, recreating the group, restarting opencpn, restarting the pi but still get the popup and the directory is not saved in the group.

The performance issue I mentioned before is panning on the charts, there's a 1-2 second delay and it's just generally lagging. Also opencpn seems slow, I had to reboot once as it hung.

My system is:
hardware
Rpi 4 Model B 4GB RAM
Sandisk Micro SD 32GB
Sihovision Monitor model SL101W
Raspberry Pi USB-C Power Supply

software
OS cat /etc/os-release
Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye)
uname -a
Linux openplotter 5.15.76-v8+ #1597 SMP PREEMPT Fri Nov 4 12:16:41 GMT 2022 aarch64 GNU/Linux

OpenCPN 5.8.4-1

config
I've set GPU memory at 512 in Raspberry Pi Configuration
in OpenCPN use accellerated graphics is selected and advanced options enabled, I've set Texture Memory Size at 256MB and Polygon smoothing, Line smoothing and Accelerated Panning is enabled.

Thanks
Jeremy

[Hakan]

Jeremy..
I do not fully follow your S-63 file locations by your text but for start:
Be sure all S-63 files and key files are present.
Read more in the manual here. Not less from item 6. Start from there and see if your chart is included by "All charts" group.

And don't forget to update chart database after any change of chart file directories.

[barcoMeCasa]

You could try setting the chart files directories to only look at
/home/pi/.var/app/org.opencpn.OpenCPN/config/opencpn/s63/s63charts/NZ/Waitemata
rescan the database then see if anything usable is in there.